Pages

September 27, 2008

Coat Closet Becomes Emergency Evacuation Closet

We live close to the mountains where fires and mudslides can occur. After the recent fire in Draper, Utah, I made some emergency changes in our home. If a disaster strikes, I may not be home and I want my kids to have easy access to food and water, and emergency supplies. I moved coats out of the coat closet, and emergency supplies in. Before, I had these items in our Utah basement. But what if an earthquake or flood occurs? Did I really want kids (or me) running downstairs, and then trying to get out? After talking to several people who have actually lived through evacuations, easy access to emergency supplies makes more sense. Believe me. You don't want to run through your house looking for everything. The time to prepare for the disaster is before it strikes.

AN EMERGENCY PLAN (practice every 6 months, General Conference) - Every family needs to create an emergency plan with the thought that Mom or Dad may not be home when disaster strikes. Such as: In a smaller emergency, the kids will go to a neighbor's house for help. If my teen son has to drive to evacuate, they will go to their aunt's house in a neighboring town. If they have to go on foot, they will probably follow neighbors to the local school or church. Each teen needs phone numbers to a relative living in state, and one out of state. If cell phone lines are jammed, at least they have a contact number they can call, and you can also call. Eventually you will get connected. Post this plan on the wall, since people forget.PORTABLE RADIO - It's important to have an AM radio with spare batteries to listen to local radio reports when disaster threatens. Your power may be out. I wrote the local emergency radio station channel on the radio with permanent marker. Then, I put it in a baggie with the batteries, and hung it on the edge of the closet shelf. FIRE EXTINGUISHER - You can mount on a wall or stand on a shelf in the same area.BEDDING - Consider storing your blankets or sleeping bags near emergency packs. I placed some of our blankets on the top shelf.PORTABLE SAFE - The other day, a friend told me that a relative had to leave her home after an earthquake in China. She ran outside, and couldn't go back in. She had no ID! So, a small safe or a portable file box such as the one from MyLifeInaBox.com which can hold important documents and CD's with family photo's is a good idea to grab and go.Include: emergency cash ($10's, $5's, $1's), home mortgage, insurance policies, home inventory, marriage certificate, birth certificates, immunization records, family medical history, driver’s license copy, passports, social security #'s of kids, automobile ownership, wills & other legal documents, bank account #'s, credit card companies & account #'s, etc.EMERGENCY BACKPACKS - Each family member should have an emergency backpack. Lest expensive time to buy a backpack is the end of September during the school clearances. Items in the emergency packs should be updated yearly, as clothing sizes and needs change, and food can be rotated. I looked in my 3 year-old's backpack the other day, and found diapers, a baby blanket, etc. Items she doesn't even use anymore! Time to update. An easy way to remember when to update is every October General Conference or perhaps around somone's birthday.Items should be stored in Ziploc baggies to protect them from moisture.

Clothing includes shoes, socks, undergarments, sweat pants, long-sleeved-shirt, and sweat jacket. If an emergency happens in the summer, you can cut pants into shorts and cut off the long-sleeves. Buy at WalMart, K-Mart, or a used clothing store in a larger size than kids actually wear. Since this is a coat closet, we store our running shoes here all the time.

LinkWithin

Search Food Storage Organizer

WELCOME!

The Food Storage Organizer

Hello, I’m Valerie! A mom of 7, Grammy to 10, and a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. I love sharing ideas about food storage, emergency preparedness, and my family. I consider myself a semi-homemade food storage queen, since I don’t can my own peaches. I hope you enjoy my website. Best wishes on your preparedness adventures!

ALL-TIME PAGE VIEWS

Disclosure of Material Connection: I have received one or more of the products or services mentioned in some of my posts for free. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.” All opinions expressed on this blog are my own and all content is mine.

Though I am a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, I am not an official church representative. Suggestions about food storage, emergency preparedness, items to purchase, gather or store for your family are just that; suggestions. You are the best judge of what works for your family. You promise to release me from all liability for any suggestions or opinion which may cause harm to you or your family. Thank you!